The Poultry Keeper

Gillb · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Turvey

One of my chickens that I bought at POL 6 weeks ago seems to be broody. She waits till the other 3 chickens have laid their eggs and then sits on them, lay's her own but continues to sit on them. Today she just wouldn't come down from the nesting box so I lifted her out as I was concerned that she was missing out on all the food. She hung around in the garden for about an hour and then went back into the nesting box, even though I had removed all the eggs by then. Any ideas on how I should deal with this would be gratefully recieved, I dont really want to let her hatch any eggs out for real as I am new to all this Rolling Eyes

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 737 Location: Cornwall

Scrunch up some chicken wire and put it in the nestbox, she won't sit on that as it's too uncomfortable.

Take it out at night so the other hens can use the box to lay in, but once they've laid put the chicken wire in again.

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1325 Location: Leicestershire

Gillb · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Turvey

Thanks Itsybitsy,
Sounds like good advice, just wasn't sure if I was being a bit cruel stopping her from sitting. We have an old rabbit run which I could try putting her in once she's laid. Alternatively I could wait until they've all laid and then block off the nesting box before she can get back in there, what do you think Question

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1325 Location: Leicestershire

No - because they can be very determined and your others may lay over a period of, well of all day really. . . . which means you'd be leaving her with access for several hours, you'd have to keep a close eye on her because as soon as your back was turned she'd be back in there, much better to ignore her protests and put her on her own somewhere cool. Read Clucky's post on Stubborn hens in General and Misc.

She will get over it much quicker than if you give her sitting opportunities.

Itsybitsy

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 737 Location: Cornwall

You take the broody away from the other hens, you don't put the chicken wire in whre they all lay.
Rolling Eyes

It's a method most breeders have used for the last 40yrs.

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1325 Location: Leicestershire

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 737 Location: Cornwall

Huh?

Sorry not sure what you're saying.

You can either put the scrunched up wire in the nest box the broody uses, if she's left in with the others, cos they ones that are laying will have enough sense not to use the nest with the wire in it.

Or put the broody on a nest of scrunched up wire on her own somewhere.

Sorry if it wasn't clear, by reading the OP's remarks I'd assumed all the other hens had laid as she said as soon as she removed all their eggs the broody hopped into the nest box again. When collecting the others eggs is the ideal time to bung the wire in the nest box.

Gillb · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Turvey

Hi, thanks to everyone for their advice. I looked at the other postings on broodies. And now after a couple of day's of separating her during the day and putting her back in the coup at night, and getting no where I'm going for the hard approach and am preparing to leave her out over night for the first time Crying or Very sad

will let you know how we get on.

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1129 Location: Carmarthenshire

I'm about to start the same regime with a black rock x that is insistant she is having everyones eggs to hatch Laughing

. I've tried the scrunched up chicken wire and it didn't work - sorry Pekinout but I also read your post to mean that you took it out for the others to lay, rather that separate her, which meant that as soon as my back was turned she was back in there. Anyway, I have a smallish dog cage so she is going in it for a while, with food and water. It will be up on bricks and covered with a tarpaulin when out (it's raining here today Crying or Very sad

) and at night the whole cage can be lifted into the chook house, also on bricks. Fingers crossed, I really have no more room for anymore broodies!!!!!

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 737 Location: Cornwall

I used to seperate my broody, put her in a small box on scrunched up chicken wire for a week.

Not everyone has enough space in their garden to do that, so suggested leaving the netting in the nest box.

Sorry if it sounded misleading. I was assuming that garden poultry keepers didnt have much room in their gardens for putting broodies seperately.

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1163 Location: Correze

If mine are determined to go broody, I give them some eggs! Not much help if you haven't got fertile eggs, mind!!

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1129 Location: Carmarthenshire

Hi Vanessa, I would prefer that myself but I'm full up!!! 10 x 3 week old chicks in the living room (in the large cage that I sometimes use as a broody) that will need somewhere outside in 5 weeks, and 2 bantams sitting on 6 eggs each in the only 2 broody arks I have. I've got 5 bantam pullets/hens, 1 cockerel (not for much longer if he attacks me again -grr) and 22 large hens. I have 2 acres and 2 large chook houses within a 100'x60' run but as soon as I get to 50 chickens I have to register with DEFRA and I really don't want to go there. Just think, all this started almost 3 years ago with 6 eggs, of which 2 hatched, given me by my sister Laughing

.

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1163 Location: Correze

Anyone near you who might like to avail themselves of your broody's services? Just a thought ...

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1129 Location: Carmarthenshire

Great minds think alike Vanessa Very Happy

. I have asked a few chook keeping friends but they all have broodies of their own, I've even offered to put some duck eggs under her for a duck keeping friend but she doesn't want anymore right now. So it's into a cage I'm afraid.